Fuel cell system with active methanol concentration control
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IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/04
출원번호
US-0718148
(2000-11-21)
발명자
/ 주소
Acker, William P.
McNamee, George C.
Dailey, William W.
출원인 / 주소
MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Cesari and McKenna, LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
19
초록▼
A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system in which, in response to changes in the output power level of the cell, the concentration of methanol supplied to the anode is actively regulated. As a result, cross-over of methanol through the cell's membrane electrolyte is minimized, and operating efficie
A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) system in which, in response to changes in the output power level of the cell, the concentration of methanol supplied to the anode is actively regulated. As a result, cross-over of methanol through the cell's membrane electrolyte is minimized, and operating efficiency is maintained over a wide dynamic range of output power levels.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of regulating a concentration of methanol in a direct methanol fuel cell system, the system including a direct methanol fuel cell being used to provide power to an application device, comprising the steps of:using a detector to sense changes in an output power level of said fuel cell and
1. A method of regulating a concentration of methanol in a direct methanol fuel cell system, the system including a direct methanol fuel cell being used to provide power to an application device, comprising the steps of:using a detector to sense changes in an output power level of said fuel cell and producing a signal indicative of said changes; andusing said signal to drive a concentration regulator which responsively controls the amount of methanol supplied to said fuel cell's anode in response to changes sensed in said output power level. 2. The method as in claim 1 wherein said concentration regulator is constructed using MEMS fabrication techniques. 3. The method as in claim 1 wherein said concentration regulator is constructed using non-MEMS fabrication techniques. 4. The method as in claim 1 wherein said concentration regulator is constructed using a combination of MEMS and non-MEMS fabrication techniques. 5. The method of regulating a concentration of methanol in a direct methanol fuel cell system, as defined in claim 1, including the further step ofwhen said detector senses a low output power level of said fuel cell and said concentration regulator indicates a high concentration of methanol, using said signal to drive said concentration regulator to responsively decrease the amount of methanol supplied to said anode thereby substantially minimizing cross-over of methanol through said fuel cell's membrane electrolyte. 6. The method of regulating a concentration of methanol in a direct methanol fuel cell system, as defined in claim 1, including the further step ofwhen said detector senses a high output power level of said fuel cell and said concentration regulator indicates a low concentration of methanol, using said signal to drive said concentration regulator to responsively increase the amount of methanol supplied to said anode thereby providing optimal methanol concentration while substantially minimizing cross-over of methanol through said fuel cell's membrane electrolyte. 7. A method of regulating a concentration of methanol in a direct methanol fuel cell system, including a direct methanol fuel cell, comprising the steps of:using a detector to sense changes in an output power level of said fuel cell and producing a signal indicative of said changes; andusing said signal to drive a concentration regulator which responsively controls the amount of methanol supplied to said fuel cell's anode in response to changes sensed in said output power level, said concentration regulator comprising a microactuator mechanically coupled to said anode and operable in response to said detector to increase or decrease a flow of methanol to said anode. 8. The method as in claim 7 wherein said microactuator comprises an enclosed chamber mechanically coupled to a flow plate which supplies methanol to said anode, said chamber being filled with a control liquid in which a resistive element is disposed, said resistive element operable in response to said detector to heat said liquid and thereby exert pressure on said flow plate, whereby the flow of methanol to said anode is varied. 9. The method as in claim 7 wherein said concentration regulator comprises a microactuator integrated with said anode. 10. The method as in claim 7 wherein said concentration regulator comprises a microactuator mechanically coupled to a gas diffusion layer and operable in response to said detector to increase or decrease a flow of methanol to said anode. 11. The method as in claim 7 wherein said concentration regulator comprises a microactuator integrated with a gas diffusion layer and operable in response to said detector to increase or decrease a flow of methanol to said anode. 12. A method of regulating a concentration of fuel in a direct oxidation fuel cell system, including a direct oxidation fuel cell being used to provide power to an application device, comprising the steps of:sensing changes in potential at an anode or load level of said fuel cell sys tem; andusing said sensed changes in potential to drive a concentration regulator which responsively controls the amount of fuel supplied to said fuel cell's anode when said power level increases and decreases, thereby minimizing cross-over of fuel through said fuel cell's membrane electrolyte. 13. The method as in claim 12 wherein said concentration regulator is constructed using MEMS fabrication techniques. 14. The method as in claim 12 wherein said concentration regulator is constructed using non-MEMS fabrication techniques. 15. The method as in claim 12 wherein said concentration regulator is constructed using a combination of MEMS and non-MEMS fabrication techniques. 16. The method of regulating a concentration of fuel in a direct oxidation fuel cell system as defined in claim 12 including the further step ofwhen a change in said potential of said fuel cell indicates an increase in a high power operating fuel cell, and fuel concentration indicated by said concentration regulator is low, using said signal to drive said concentration regulator to responsively increase the amount of fuel supplied to said fuel cell's anode, to produce an optimal amount of fuel being supplied to said anode, while substantially minimizing fuel crossover. 17. The method of regulating a concentration of fuel in a direct oxidation fuel cell system as defined in claim 12 including the further step ofwhen a change in said potential of said fuel cell indicates an increase in a low power operating fuel cell, and fuel concentration indicated by said concentration regulator is high, using said signal to drive said concentration regulator to responsively decrease the amount of fuel supplied to said fuel cell's anode, to substantially minimize fuel crossover. 18. A method of regulating a concentration of fuel in a direct oxidation fuel cell system comprising the steps of:sensing changes in potential at an anode or load level of said fuel cell system; andusing said sensed changes in potential to drive a concentration regulator which responsively controls the amount of fuel supplied to said fuel cell's anode when said power level increases and decreases, thereby minimizing cross-over of fuel through said fuel cell's membrane electrolyte, and said concentration regulator comprising a microactuator mechanically coupled to said anode and operable in response to said detector to increase or decrease a flow of fuel to said anode. 19. The method as in claim 18 wherein said fuel is methanol and said microactuator comprises an enclosed chamber mechanically coupled to a flow plate which supplies methanol to said anode, said chamber being filled with a control liquid in which a resistive element is disposed, said resistive element operable in response to said detector to heat said liquid and thereby exert pressure on said flow plate, whereby the flow of methanol to said anode is varied. 20. The method as in claim 18 wherein said concentration regulator comprises a microactuator integrated with said anode. 21. The method as in claim 18 wherein said fuel is methanol and said concentration regulator comprises a microactuator mechanically coupled to a gas diffusion layer and operable in response to said detector to increase or decrease a flow of methanol to said anode. 22. The method as in claim 18 wherein said concentration regulator comprises a microactuator integrated with a gas diffusion layer and operable in response to said detector to increase or decrease a flow of fuel to said anode.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (19)
Surampudi Subbarao (Glendora CA) Narayanan Sekharipuram R. (Altadena CA) Vamos Eugene (La Canada CA) Frank Harvey A. (Encino CA) Halpert Gerald (Pasadena CA) Olah George A. (Beverly Hills CA) Prakash, Aqueous liquid feed organic fuel cell using solid polymer electrolyte membrane.
Surampudi Subbarao ; Frank Harvey A. ; Narayanan Sekharipuram R. ; Chun William ; Jeffries-Nakamura Barbara ; Kindler Andrew ; Halpert Gerald, Direct methanol feed fuel cell and system.
Hauer Karl-Heinz,DEX, Fuel cell arrangement having a methanol reformer with an energy storage unit and method for controlling the energy flow of the fuel cell arrangement.
Kosek John A. (Danvers MA) Cropley Cecelia C. (Acton MA) Laconti Anthony B. (Lynnfield MA), Membrane-electrode assembly for a direct methanol fuel cell.
Acker,William P.; Adler,Michael S.; Gottesfeld,Shimshon, Apparatus and methods for sensor-less optimization of methanol concentration in a direct methanol fuel cell system.
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